Former Limerick councillor Michael Kelly, who suffered a gunshot wound to his head three weeks ago, opened his eyes yesterday for the first time since the shooting.
The 48-year-old, poll-topping councillor was transferred to Limerick Regional Hospital from Cork University Hospital on Monday night but had not regained consciousness since suffering a single bullet wound to his head on May 14th.
"He opened his eyes a little yesterday morning but he has not woken up properly yet. He has been heavily sedated but he's not been given any more medication so we're hoping that will wear off in the next day or two," his brother, Anthony Kelly, said yesterday.
Detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Limerick are leading an investigation into the circumstances of the shooting at Mr Kelly's mother's house in Southill.
The gun used in the shooting has not been found and no arrests have been made in relation to the incident. Mr Kelly's younger brother, Anthony, has denied that the wound was self-inflicted and maintains that someone entered his mother's house and shot his brother.
A father of seven, Michael Kelly topped the poll in the 1999 local elections, where he was elected city Alderman for Ward Three in Limerick city.